A big part of my life was spent as a creative guy in advertising. The mantra for creative guys and gals was: quality work, on time, within the budget. My greatest fear was number two … on time.

I mean we hired gun creative types didn’t have the luxury of other creative types (writers, artist, etc.) who had no time constraints or clients for that matter.

The dream of people like me was to only have to answer to yourself, to literally know in your heart that you could wait until after you were dead and buried to be assessed, discovered and have your creativity made famous (and if it wasn’t, big deal, you wouldn’t know or care anyway).

In our profession, there was only one thing worse than death (and it wasn’t missing cocktail hour).

It was having a client fire you over a missed deadline (even the name is scary) you were responsible for meeting.

So my recurring nightmare would be seeing a blank space in a national magazine, a super bowl spot or an outdoor board that would announce to the whole world: THIS WHITE SPACE IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY TOM LAUGHON

I thought it was the worse thing that could ever happen to a creative person in advertising … way worse than a typo.

But now that I am a consultant, a seasoned guide, a trusted advisor (I know, I was an adman, how can that be?), I have a whole different way of looking at white space.

It is not the grim reaper, it is a lifesaver.

In this day of constant connectivity, where there is nowhere to hide, and instant everything a little bit of white space just may add some overtime to your life and most certainly more quality time.

Read Google’s Eric Schmidt’s take on the curse of constant connection and you’ll get a feel for why I believe using my white space is so critical.

So I am proudly announcing to all humans: THIS WHITE SPACE IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY TOM LAUGHON

It is FREE to use and to pass on to others. There are no strings attached, no batteries needed, no sales people who will followup with you and no parts to break or that will ever need replacing. It is open 365/24/7. It will work forever!

Here’s how it works:

Take three deep breaths. Loosen up mentally and physically.

Focus on my white space and nothing but my white space.

Use it to think, dream, relax, laugh, cry, create.

The only thing off limits is negativity and making excuses.

Smell the roses. Make your own scents. Continue to loosen up. Let the rest of the world spin out of control. For the time being, you are not on it. You are in my white space which is further away from earth than anything, including outer space.

You are in a protected, safe place … my white space.

No noise. No interuptions. No phones beeping, ringing or buzzing. No memos, emails, messages, stock market updates. No status updates.

Nobody’s home.

Put the “Gone Fishing” sign up.

You might think of something you have never done before, but always wanted to do. You may want to commit to not only doing it, but doing it in an excellent way. Develop a plan on how you will do it. Then do it!

You might do nothing. That’s something. Do that in an excellent way, too. No expectations. No accountability. Just doing nothing in my white space can be exhilaration.

Let yourself free fall. Feel it. Have the time of your life! You can’t hurt anyone, including yourself.

Revisit this space at least once a day. Give it a minute, an hour or throw your watch out the window (time really flies when you do this) or put it in a safe deposit box along with your smart phone.

When asked what are you doing, be honest. Just say, “Oh nothing. Won’t you join me?”

This could be a movement.

This should be a movement.

Warning: This could be addictive.

The Good news: It could be as addictive as connectivity and that would be a good thing.

Not bragging, but this little white space could be my greatest invention and contribution to people kind.

It could change your world and the world around you.

Make using it a habit. Make something happen as a result.

See you tomorrow.

Same space, same time.

Just remember: THIS WHITE SPACE IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY TOM LAUGHON

Challenge 1: Share it with folks who really need some white space. Ask them to do the same (only after they use it).

Challenge 2: Let me know where or what you currently use for white space, why and how often you use it.

Challenge 3: Write down one thing you want to focus on and revisit my white space and see if it helps you think, imagine way beyond the self imposed boarders of your mind. Six sense it (see it, hear it, taste it, touch it and by all means nonsense it). Add some cayenne or a little spice of your own.

That’s all for now. I am working on my next invention. My White Space App. Who wouldn’t want on!

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About the Author

In 1999, Tom, President and Founder of Catch Your Limit Consulting, set out to create a consulting company with a unique mission of helping clients to “catch their limit.” He was also determined to prove that a consultant didn’t need “big boy shoes” and a tie to be a trusted advisor.

His journey from lead singer in a rock-n-roll band* to consultant, strategist, keynote speaker, professor and writer is a fascinating one. After deciding to leave the band and go back to college, Tom finally graduated from the University of Florida and began a successful career in advertising as a copywriter in Dallas, TX followed by Executive Creative Director in Richmond, VA. When they say, “Virginia is for lovers” in Tom’s case, they are right. By his early thirties, Tom had become so enamored with marketing that he decided to open his own agency. Tom’s spent his career helping organizations innovate, create, communicate and take products to market, He’s worked with some of America’s top brands: Comcast Communications, McDonald’s, Reynolds Metals, Corning/Mitsubishi, Samsung, International Dairy Queen and The Society to Protect America’s Eagles.

After a successful career as an agency owner, Tom’s next career was consultant for the marketing and communications industry. For over ten years, Tom consulted exclusively for ad agencies, media companies, public relations firms, creative boutiques, etc. in the areas of branding, new business development, presentations and creative strategy.

Over time, Tom couldn’t shake the idea that he had more to offer the world than just marketing and advertising expertise. Time and time again, he would see that leaders in all types of organizations were struggling with creating cultures conducive to leadership development, creativity and innovation. He was saddened by the lack of joy, excitement, courage, passion, motivation, encouragement and fulfillment in the workplace. And, the more he thought about it, the more he knew that he wanted his work to bring about positive change for people at all levels in an organization.

Tom’s dream collided with his creativity and his gift for branding and the idea for Catch Your Limit Consulting, the World’s Only Management, Marketing & Fish Cleaning Services firm was born. And, today, Tom’s leadership and passion have infused our entire culture. His commitment to “practice what we preach” makes Catch Your Limit an exciting round-the-clock experiment. Everything that we teach has to first be tested by our team. Our Tallahassee and Richmond offices are big Petri dishes for leadership, teaming, creativity and innovation. We’re always learning, absorbing, failing, celebrating and trying new things.

And, Tom’s other laboratories for creativity and innovation are his “World Famous” courses at Florida State University which have included Creative Strategy I & II for the College of Communication and Professional Selling, Basic Marketing and Promotional Management for the College of Business.

In addition to consulting for organizations, Tom is one of the country’s leading experts on creativity and strategic thinking. As a writer, his articles and blogs appear all over creation and he’s currently writing a book about fostering creativity and strategic thinking in organizations. He is also a nationally recognized speaker and facilitator. Once you’ve met Tom, it becomes obvious why his speeches always get rave reviews. A natural storyteller, Tom knows how to ignite the hearts, brains and souls of an audience in an entertaining, interactive way that delivers powerful take-a-ways each and every time … guaranteed.

Tom’s passion is fishing and his paradise is in the crystal blue Gulf waters off the “Forgotten Coast”. Tom loves to eat at hole-in-the-wall places, the bigger the hole the better and be prepared for him to order whatever you see on the menu that makes you think. “Who would eat that?” Tom will eat anything you wouldn’t, regardless of where it is on the food chain. If he really likes you and you’re in our neck of the woods, he’ll take you to Shell Oyster Bar, a closet sized shack behind a mechanic shop that he swears serves the best oysters around.

However if he brings up Hinchy McGee or starts telling you about his pet alligator you’ve encouraged him a little too much.

*Two members in Tom’s band, The Maundy Quintet , were later members of the Eagles. They were Bernie Leadon and Don Felder.